In a sombre ceremony in front of FAO
headquarters on Friday, Jacques Diouf, Director-General of
FAO, joined Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni in planting a cypress
tree in memory of lives lost during the attacks in the
United States earlier that week. "We wanted to plant this
tree, for us and for our future, to remember the thousands
of innocent people who died in New York and Washington,"
said Mr Veltroni. The ceremony followed three minutes of
silence observed at noon today across Europe.

Director-General Diouf expressed his solidarity with the
people of the United States and thanked the mayor of Rome
"for having chosen a tree, a symbol of agriculture, and for
having chosen this spot, so close to the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations." The
seven-metre high tree was planted in a small square across
from FAO. Beside the tree is a stone marker that makes a
tribute to the victims of the attacks, and appeals for peace
against terrorism.